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Wednesday, 6 December 2006

Hackney prepares for demolition

and it looks like curtains for the oldest surviving circus entrance in England

where Sir Robert Fosset's circus performed in its first season 1886

The Council is finally to achieve its objective. In 1995 the Council declared the Dalston Theatre a site for redevelopment. In 1997, despite a petition of 25,000 signatures and 12 deputations, the Council still decided to evict the Four Aces, Labrynth and community organisations from the buildings so that it could sell the site to a developer. The development didn't materialise. Then in 2003, after the buildings had remained boarded up and on death row for 5 years, the Secretary of State gave outline approval on appeal for their demolition and redevelopment. Since December 2005 OPEN has obtained court injunctions to stay the Council's hand and urged the authorities to consider reusing at least some of the buildings. But the decision to fund New Dalston's Olympic bus station, by demolishing historic Dalston and selling the land for towerblock developments, had already been taken before the recent public consultation started. The Council, the Greater London Authority and the Secretary of State have refused to change the plans. Next they will implement the demolition plans for Dalston Lane north. All these decisions have contributed to the planned destruction of old Dalston.

The PhilistinesNoun: the natives or inhabitants of ancient PhilistiaAdjective: those who pursue only material gain and who place no value on beauty, culture or artistic creations;Philistinism: the vandalism of our heritage and culture as justified by institutional policy.

"We are championing the historic environment and using the Borough’s heritage as a key component of economic regeneration... Most buildings in Hackney are not listed but many are of group value and have particular historical associations or are cherished local landmarks. The Council is committed to keeping such buildings wherever possible and views them as an asset for regeneration and for their relevance to diverse local communities” Hackney Council September 2005

Hackney council took away my favorite club (labyrinth) and i cant believe that they never ended up bothering to turn the land into anything but a building site!. what a waste of a great club.Club labyrinth RIP sadly missed by all the labyrinth crew

Theatre must not be allowed to die. It is a far greater spectacle than telly, and a great deal more entertaining. Local authorities need to value the arts, and help introduce live performance art to new audiences.

Unfortunately some leading Hackney councillors are more concerned about their own careers than they are about the borough.Cabinet member Nargis Khan is trying to be selected to be the Labour Parliamentary candidiate for Manchester Withington.No doubt she'll be against demolishing historic buildings up there!Don't believe me. Visit www.chrispaul-labouroflove.blogspot.com .

Unfortunately some leading Hackney councillors are more concerned about their own careers than they are about the borough.Cabinet member Nargis Khan is trying to be selected to be the Labour Parliamentary candidiate for Manchester Withington.No doubt she'll be against demolishing historic buildings up there!Don't believe me. Visit www.chrispaul-labouroflove.blogspot.com .

When we asked our Ward Councillor Nargis Khan, whether she would represent our concerns about the planned destruction of Dalston's heritage, she said she'd await the outcome of consultation on the Dalston Area Action Plan. But that Plan was suspended last year, on government orders, and by the time it's completed old Dalston will be long gone. Of course although the Theatre building appeared on Option 1 of the Plan, and we voted for that, Hackney then said it was a mistake and they hadn't intended to consult us on retaining it! Our mistake then?

What a joke! Yet another classic case of council always looking to the short term... prefer to reap profits of selling a bit of land for a new development with no soul, rather than investing in renovation!

A set of v. historic buildings and the home of Labrynth - one of London's most influential clubs in the world-wide dance music scene.

Such a shame Labrynth has gone. The nights of my life were spent in there. The bass was banging, the people were mental and Jo & Sue were the mutts nuts. They also put on the best rave ever at their 5th birthday ball at Bagleys. Im gutted, truly gutted the old girl has gone.

She will live on.

P.S - Billy Bunter was the best and did that DJ Booth ever fall down in the end? lol

Planning alerts!

OPEN Dalston is a forum of local people who live or work in Dalston. OPEN Dalston campaigns for excellence in the quality of the built environment and public realm, the provision of transportation and amenities, and to ensure that changes to these have proper regard to the needs of local residents and businesses and the maintenance of a sustainable residential and business community. For more information please email info@opendalston.net
Some members of OPEN Dalston are also members, and some are Directors, of the not-for-profit company OPEN (Organisation for Promotion of Environmental Needs Ltd) – www.openuk.net